sail-world.com -- Kiteboard World Cup - Great final day on the Riviera Nayarit

Kiteboard World Cup - Great final day on the Riviera Nayarit

Thu, 16 May 2013

The final day of competition at the MINI Kiteboard World Cup on the Riviera Nayarit had great conditions. The thermal wind picked up to about 15 knots and two races were run. The first race was won by Bryan Lake and Julien Kerneur won the second race. On the women side, Smunty won the first race and Arroyo won the second race.

After the races Kevin Langeree and Alex Pastor put on a great freestyle show in front of the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta. The day wrapped up with a beautiful prize ceremony crowning Bryan Lake and Smunty as the winners of the Slalom and Langeree and Smunty won the freestyle.

The slalom course was set up with long legs and four marks to push the riders to their maximum speed, while rounding the marks at full speed. The wind was a steady 15 knots and riders were riding their 11 and 13 meter kites. The first race was run in a quarterfinal, semifinal and final format with the top three riders advancing to the next round. Once again all the favorites advanced to the final. Lake had a great start along with Kernuer, Lake just seem to have more speed and reached the mark first. Adam Koch came back strong and overtook Kerneur to move into second. The two battled all the way to the finish line but Koch won the exchange and got his best finish of the event. Lake stayed in front and won his fifth consecutive race.

The final race of the event was set up with two half feet semifinals and an eight-man final. All three races were extremely exciting with all the riders pushing each other right from the start. Once again all the top riders made it into the final and had to prepare for a very competitive eight-man final. All the competitors were within meters of the start line when the green flag went up and were already going full speed to the first Mark. Brian Lake and Adam Koch arrived at the mark first but Bryan hit a wave and kart wheeled into Adam and they tangle kites, Bryan was disqualified and Adam given a redress. Julien Kernuer went on to win his first race followed by Adam Withington who got a second place finish.

'Slalom is a relax approach to competitive racing, going full speed, touching kites and being fair play. No harm, no foul approached to close racing,' said Bryan Lake.

After six races Brian was first, Julien was second and Adam Whitington was third.

The women’s races were once again very close Smunty kept on winning and solified her lead in the overall points ranking. Arroyo was still extremely consistenet and won the last race giving her a scond overall. Jessica Whitington’s second-place finish in the first race of the day put her in third overall.

Alex pastor and Kevin Langeree came out before the closing ceremony to put on the freestyle exhibition. There were both landing technical handle passes like the back mobe’s and flat 3’s, while also doing some old-school moves. The large crowd on the beach cheered them on every time they landed a move.

'It is great to show the public the latest moves and big air tricks that are really fun to do,' said Kevin Langeree.

After a full day of kiting it was time to reward the winners of the MINI kiteboard World Cup in Riviera Nayarit. It was a great ceremony on the beach with all the riders coming to cheer on winners and for the winners to claim their trophies and prizes.